Little Nicki's happy and relaxed boho home

I thought I'd start the week with a cheerful space full of colourful pieces. Where better than the happy home of Nicole Valentine Don (or 'Little Nicki') a Canadian stylist, blogger and DIYer living in Sydney, Australia? Her home was recently photographed by Lauren Bamford with help from stylist guru Jason Grant (the duo behind this cheerful book) and i was so excited to see the results! Little Nicki's home is a wonderful mix of flea market finds, antiques, Mexican textiles - and of course there's those plants. What a great home tour to start the week with, don't you think?!

Homeowner: Nicole Valentine Don. Photographer: Lauren Bamford. Stylist: Jason Grant.

What a truly unique home? What strikes me is just how instinctive her style is, and it makes me smile. Is there anything that stands out to you?

For a similiar look try: Half moon garland,  one of these hand jewellery stands which you canthen personalise with paint. I love this Boucherouite rug and these vintage arrows. A wonderful handmade Moroccan wedding blanket.

Other lovely, vibrant homes I've seen with a similar look (hey, it's Monday, we all need to look for colour where we can!) - include this boho Mexican home, a relaxed Florida home and a cheerful Brooklyn space.

Have a wonderful start to the week!

PS If you haven't entered yet, don't miss the chance to win 250 quid to spend in Nest.co.uk here!

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The winner of the £250 to spend at Nest.co.uk is...

Thank you so much who entered the give-away to win £250 to spend at fabulous online store Nest.co.uk. After reading through all the 280+ wonderful entries I'm excited to announce the winner as....drum roll....Guter Zustand - we totally hear you with wanting something with your heart and knowing what you need with your head - let's hope this prize will give you a little of both! Please drop me a mail so we can organise your prize.

For everyone else who entered, all is not lost, Nest.co.uk  have a fabulous sale on until 3rd August 2015- hurry!

1. String Pocket Shelving (styled by Caroline Dahl) 2. Muuto dot coat hooks 3. Skagerak Georg stool

This competition is now closed. 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nest.co.uk - Headline Retail Partner of designjunction.

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A truly unique, eclectic Paris home

The weekend - yeah! (almost).  I thought I'd mix things up a little with an oh so cool eclectic home in St Germain, Paris - courtesy of Milk Decoration (one of my favourite reads). It belongs to Carole and Stéphane Borraz and their daughters Lilly and Albertine. Carole and Stéphane are the duo behind Galerie Salon, a chic haven for collectors, decorators and anyone looking for treasures in Paris Left Bank. Although relatively small (65 m2), their beautiful apartment dates back to the 1930's and affords fantastic views of the city including Saint-Sulpice church. Carole describes her home as a 'chest of memories' with every unique object telling a story - antiques, vintage finds, and even items found in rubbish bins sit side by side to create a home bursting with personality.

Milk Decoration - shared with kind permission. Photographer: Brunet Souet.

What a fantastic home - so individual. I particularly love the peas in the pod above the desk, the vintage blackboard and the wall of mirrors.

The children's bedroom is absolutely lovely too with lovely rich colours against an earth tone.

I'll be adding Galerie Salon to my list next time I'm in Paris (while staying in this design hotel - naturellement). 

I'm also loving this incredibly elegant Parisien apartment (especially the kitchen!), and a fun, vintage inspired space in the Paris suburbs (that little pram! Oh la la!).

Now, it's time for that all important weekend. And did I mention that I'm holding an amazing give-away with a prize from one of my all time favourite online stores?  Make sure you pop in tomorrow to see what all the fuss is about (it'll be open to everyone....)!

Have a great couple of days!

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A lovely, calm white and grey Swedish island home

There's a howling gale outside and the rain is lashing against the windows of our summer cottage. It's actually very cosy (slippers at the ready!) - as long as the sun promises to come out tomorrow. Even so, my day has been totally brightened up by this home on the island of Dalarö in the Stockholm archipelago. Beautifully captured by the talented guys at Lovely Life, the home belongs to stylist  Mari Strengheilm,  Christian, a digital strategist and their children Dante (6) and Juno (3).  Looking out over the Baltic sea, the home is decorated in pretty shades of grey and white (love the half/half wall and chequered hall floor) with a slight African touch.  Let's take a tour...

Homeowner: Mari Strengheilm Photography: Amelia Widell.

Oj oj oj (as they say in Sweden) - what a wonderful home, don't you think?!

I'm intrigued by the bed nook in the children's bedroom - it looks incredibly cosy! It reminds me of the one in this pretty Swedish cottage - which has been used to create a private place to sleep on the landing. I also love this modern version of the bed nook. In fact I'm all for nooks in general, so much so that I've dedicated an entire Pinterest board to them! I'm sure if we look hard enough in our own homes we'd find a place to create one.

Is there anything you love in particular about this home?

There are images galore of this lovely space and a full write up /interview with Mari  (in Swedish) here. 

Have a lovely day!

PS More white and grey home interiors here (scroll passed this one).

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A lovely home and studio in Sweden's oldest town

I love how there are places which hold special memories, don't you? Sweden's oldest town of Sigtuna, just outside Stockholm is one of those for me. Not only did I visit one of my best friends there when I was around 16 (skinny dipping in the lake at midnight was just one of the many antics), and her wonderful parents still live there but many of my friends grew up in the town too. I was therefore so excited to come across this lovely Sigtuna home and studio. I don't know the owners....it belongs to Rigette Klint, Brand Manager at beautiful online store Edblad and her family, but I immediately felt nostalgic seeing the exterior, and was delighted to see the inside was rather lovely too! Let's take a tour...

Photographer: Anna Kern - shared with kind permission. Elle Decoration.  Post inspired by House of C with thanks. 

Such a lovely home. don't you think? I love that Rigette's style is so instinctive and doesn't following any particular track.

I'm in love with the rattan chair in the sitting room. You can pick the same one up here (in case you're wondering (I was, until last week!).

We're seeing that lovely blue of the table everywhere right now including on the walls of the home of a Swedish food blogger, and in this Danish apartment. So pretty!

If you're interested, you can read the full article and find out where many of the items in this home are from over at Elle Decoration. 

More fab Swedish homes from the Stockholm area include this idyllic cottage in the archipelago , an uber cool cabin with a boho touch and a calm white and grey apartment. I really love Stockholm and the surrounding archipelagos, living in the South it still remains a mystery to me but I'd to love to discover more (preferably by sail boat). How about you?

Have a lovely day!

PS is there a place which holds special memories for you? I'm intrigued to hear... 

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